Chief of Army Staff Gen Kayani has called for ‘precision strikes to avoid collateral damage even at the expense of taking risks’ in Swat. But will this strategy work?
Air raids, especially those conducted by coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan almost always cause widespread civilian casualties. Given the chequered history of precision strikes, can it be said that the Pakistan army will do any better? Also, the army chief has said that the overall success of the operations in Swat and adjoining regions depend on three areas: ‘conduct of military operations, minimizing collateral damage and correctly managing IDPs’.
So far the armed forces have claimed killing more than 750 militants, though the figure is yet to be independently verified. The Taliban claim that only 15 of its fighters have lost their lives. Meanwhile, thousands of refugees have been pouring out of the areas affected by the full-scale military operation. According to some estimates, the figure of the Internally Displaced Persons has already crossed a staggering one million.
Dawn.com invites readers to debate the Swat strategy and suggest what’s right or wrong with the ongoing action.
If you do you are damned and if you don’t you are damned. That was the situation the Pakistan army was facing a little while ago. Now they have decided to do, rather than to wait and see. Military solution is the last option in any dispute but sometimes it is a necessary one. The kind of barbarity the Pakistani Taliban had shown have no examples of it in the recent history of the region. Killing scores of their own innocent people by the way of beheadings shows the brutal nature of these misguided people. It boggles the mind that what kind of ideology they are following which turned them into beasts. The gory images and videos of cutting throats of innocent victims were displayed with pride and impunity by the Taliban. The whole nation of Pakistan was watching these episodes of terror with aghast which were being unfolded before their eyes. In the absence of any morality, ethics, or humanity, no one considers the Taliban’s claim as genuine that they are waging a just war against the state of Pakistan.
While many developing countries of the world were busy making progress economically and achieving prosperity and the phenomena such as globalization and internationalization were becoming buzz words, Pakistan found it self facing this mortal threat to its existence. The Army action is necessary to weed out the insurgents from the beautiful valley of Swat and restore its peace. Some of the comments here still question the Army’s action in the valley. And some suggested arming the local people to defend themselves against the militants. Most people have some kind of fire arm in NWFP. But individual people cannot fight the militants by themselves. They are organized, trained and being helped financially (I have no data to prove that but it seems that without a strong financial backing no one can buy such a heavy weaponry in greater numbers, so it is self evident). Unless there is an anti Taliban movements rises on a larger scale individuals will fail to do anything, the example of which is many murdered pro- government tribal leaders and failure of the tribal lashkers. Pakistan is not ready for a civil war, though it may happen, as it happened in many countries of the world for example in the USA or in Japan, Russia, France, or China etc. That possibility can only occur in the event that the Army fails to contain the present insurgency, and that would be a very bad turn for Pakistan, as it may cause a dissension in the Army itself which will be a worst case scenario. Therefore, the success of the Army in defeating the militants of Swat has become absolutely necessary for the future of Pakistan.
Do we have a choice now? We have been creating this mess through “jihadi” tanzims and camps now for two decades started by Zia and his gang. Unfortunate that innocent women and children are caught up in the conflict because of delayed reaction. When action was taken against the armed trouble makers in Lal Masjid, many opposed it without understanding long term consequences. Most importantly, locals have to ensure that future trouble is nipped in the bud in their respective areas if the army succeeds in clearing the area this time. If locals ignore the problem again, we would definitely be in for a much bigger crises in the future.
The very same thing happened in Afghanistan, the Talibans start beating people in public, questioning women who were without man walking down the streets, lashing people without giving any chance to prove themselves innocent. Islam does not teach such barbaric acts. These Talibans came from Afghanistan, they want to harass and manipulate the mass public. To me they have political agenda than the religious one. Saudi Arabia does not even have such harsh laws for people. The suicide strictly prohibited in Islam, how do they justify such act against their own innocent muslim brothers and sisters.
They are only causing widespread harassment and panic to manipulate the mass public. The military was the only option for them, because they are not listening to anyone else but their own leaders who fund them secretly to fight and kill innocent people.
GOOD LUCK PAKISTANI ARMY, WE SUPPORT YOU 100%
It is like a bad medicine which is good for the nation.
I am just concerned that the militants are just staying put and will reorganize after the operation is over. Best thing to do is to impose “Martial Law” in these regions and make this an on-going operation rather than a milestone
Dear Pakistani friends,
Over 1 billion Indian’s support you during your time of crisis. May you be successfully overcome the turbulent times and become economically developed nation. My wishes are that India and Pakistan should be friends and good neigbours. Let’s put the ghost of past behind us and help each other during troubled times since we share the same food,language and culture.
Can our leaders be leaders and stand up to the challenge? The aid money can be used to pay handsome amount to people who lay arms… There can be so many other options – but only if our parliament and leaders can sit and decide with the vision. The repercussions of this will damage Pakistan and its people.
The Swat operation must reach it logical conclusion with all the entrenched taliban being wiped out. Defeat or retreat is not an option for the government.
Most importantly, the Army Special Ops units must hunt and capture and eliminate Fazlullah and his senior commanders most likely hunkered down in Peochar. Doing so will have a devastating impact on the taliban foot soldiers and their willingness to fight.
It was great to see General Kayani visit the troops in Swat – he is clearly leading from the front.
I am tired of hearing that they are enemy of Islam and Pakistan, similar things do happen in other parts of the world but citizens there do not call rough elements are enemies of Chirstianity or enemies of hinduism, for once lets call these rough elements as bad guys and nothing more. Secondly I am skeptical about army’s intent in swat and other areas, they gave them lot of time to consolidate and run elsewhere and now they use ariel bombing and howtizer firing which is fine to use only it it is an organised war against the frontline, where are we heading as civilisation if we randomly bomb our own cities, we any way have terrorist doing that. By avoiding one to one battle the army thinks it is saving its humna resoruce, but I feel there is hardly any strategic thinking on part of army and this can lead to future sucide attacks even from people that are neutral in Swat. Army’s morale needs to be checked and at the same time intent of top leadership needs to be scrutinised if we need to get out dark age.
To constantly question the actions of the army, to perpetually blame them for making mistakes (which are inevitable in such a massive operation) is the way to lose the war against the turbaned 18 year olds who were crusing the streets 60 miles from Islamabad, declaring victory over the infidels.
Pakistan needs to make up it’s mind and then media needs to step back and allow for the operation to be completed. There needs to be more reporting, and less opining in this critial time.
Why should we even think this that operation is on track or not. These Mullahs want to capture Pakistan and want to enforce thier “own laws” under the cover of Islam. This will cause a severe damage to relegion Islam which does not teach such things at all. These are enemies of Islam’ terrorists and extremists. They all should be dealt with force.
It is a totally different and difficult war for Pakistan Army and it will take longer than is expected to end. One of the most difficult aspects of this war, as I see, is that the millitants are hiding in common populace and do not have any sign to be identified by law enforcement agencies. One who develops a wrong thinking and takes up arms, which are in his access, may call himself a Taliban.
The question is not whether the Pakistan Army is on the right track or not. The question is ask is when will it end? Taliban who have gone into hiding will try to avenge themselves after the army leaves. Where does that leave the local people? They are caught between a rock and a hard place. Some people have suggested that they should not have let the Taliban into Swat in the first place. How could the local people have stopped them? With stones and sticks? Taliban have AK-47s. The people had no choice. The local police should have stopped them. They didn’t because a lot of Pakistanis still think that the Taliban is fighting for Islam. Therein lies the problem.
We, as nation should support our army and its decision…
(Muaj badhay ya aandhi aaye diya jalaye rakhna hai
Ghar ki khatir sau dukh jhailen ghar to aakhir apna hai.)
All the nation should be united and support the on going military operation aginst the so called defenders of Shariat .
Its huge resposability on the leadership of all the political parties that we Pakistani as nation supporting goverment freh military operation aginst the Talibian who on the name of Islam not only defaming the true image of Islam but also stake Pakistan intgeration .
Media should also show maturity and should support the military operation and not aired any videos which further stregethen the support of Talibian .
Time has come that we should be united and convey a clear message to world that Talibian never captured Pakistan with their terror and imposed their so called tribal brand of sharia .
I urged the political leaders to shun their differences and to be united and strongly support the military action and should also support the displaced person with open arms .
Our great founder leader late Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah got freedom for moderate and democrtic Pakistan nor for clergy who using name of Islam full fill their agenda to disintgerate Jinnah’s Pakistan .
The Pakistan Army is the bravest of the brave. In peace they are men of character and in adversity, men of steel. Yet again they make us proud. Venting premature frustration and giving expert opinion on Army’s inaction while being faced with a visible threat is easier for us. Not may be, but surely, our words and expert logic must hurt these men, they are human beings after all. But we forget the one basic thing that these men in khakis live for the Pakistan ideology every day. Their sacrifice is not pen or paper, slogans or ‘go-slows’ but flesh and blood. They have replied our anger and frustration with smile and patience, flesh and blood while we are busy doing expert opinions over talks shows and editorials from the safety of cities. It hurts to imagine that some of our soldiers will forever lose the joy of their children seeing them come back from work and that these kids will grow as orphans because their father had sacrificed their lives upon the altar of Pakistan’s ideology and freedom to ensure we were with our children safe and prosperous.
Pakistan Army will not let a band of thugs rule our ideology. Let me be emphatic, we are proud of what the Army is doing, and are persistently in prayers for their success and for the patience of those that have lost their brave sons while ensuring the rest of us live our freedom in the moment.
I am just simple person but my comon sense say that drone attack and air-strick can not be right track. These type of insurgency can be coped with special comandos and field army least to avoid civil casualties and collateral damage. This is second worst disaster after Earth Quake but this is men made.
When the peace deal was taking place, the media, critics and the citizens were continously blaming the government for not doing enough, while the videos started surfacing showing women flogged, throats slit, preteens shooting police officers at point blank range and getting applause from the crowd watching. The electronic media, print media and otherwise fascist parties couldnt stop talking about it criticizing the deal. As time showed us the peace deal didnt stop the barbarism in those areas.
Now for the fist time in decades the political parties, parliament, rightful islamic scholars, media, government and the military have united to agree that these elements should be wiped out for the future of Pakistan, here we are again criticizing them that we didnt exhaust all options for dialogue. When population this huge is displaced even developed countries are bound to make mistakes and there will be setbacks and shortfalls (Hurricane Katrina is one example). everything cant be ready all at one time for more than a million people given the lack of administration capabilities within our system. Preparing ahead of time wold have required months if not weeks, signalling the militants to scatter all over the country. This was inevitable, it had to happen sooner or later, and this was much later than it should have been. But to get unified consensus and citizens approval govt. had no choice but to wait for things to get bad from worse.
Pakistans using the Air Power against the Taliban Millitants may be questionable. For the pakistan forces to win the battle ultimately, it will be the Infantry which will have to dominate the area. The airforce and Helicopter Gunships being used obviously cannot dominate the Valley but can only be used as a Force Multiplier for the Ground Forces.
The Figures of 750 Militants being killed are in all accounts grossly exagerated. If it is right then it may be the civilian population which has been effected rather than the Taliban in colateral damage.
The Taliban if feels the heat now will just melt away into the Mountains to fight a war at a later time and place of their choosing.
Incidentally Pakistan is in for a long haul and the war will have to be waged on various fronts i.e. Militarily ( counter insurgency), economically, religiously, socially etc.
One simple question comes to the mind of a common Pakistani Citizen. Why such an army of 10,000 militants, terrorists and anti Pakistan elements was allowed to build up to such an extent, that Army has to be moved in as a desperate case? Where were our great intelligence agencies and above all the politicians who are basically responsible for this mess.
As for the Operations, it was long overdue. Well, today the entire nation is behind Army. They are doing a fine job. All of us should pray for solidarity of Pakistan. One Nation, one Government & one Army to defend against enemies of Pakistan.
Long live Pakistan.
I am from India and a keen follower of what is happening in your world. I am deeply disturbed by what is happening in Pakistan . Military may have an win in this offensive against the Militants but this may spur large number of suicidal attacks across the country ,which cannot be controlled by any means . Killing a few hundred militants will not solve problem . Around 1 million people are going to be displaced due to this was ,this can destabilize the complete mechanism and push the country to more instability . I suppose the government in Pakistan should engage the Taliban in a constructive ways and bring down to a negotiation table again than using the military means . No insurgency can be won by counter insurgency military operations .Taliban is not a bandit group . They are operating on an Ideology and that Ideology can motivate people in good and bad way as well .We must have more inclusive measures to counter it . Talibans fight is not against the Pakistanis , In my opinion, they are fighting against the imperial forces occupying you land.
I fully support the military action as it deemed neccesary for the exiatence of Pakistan barring the casaulities,which will happen and I do feel sorry and sympathise but long term plans are often better than short vision, which most of the failed politicians have at present.
hi
indeed the operation of pak army is on the right track if the ppl of tribal area had taken this step earlier they would have seen such situation
The triblians gave support to taliban which cause thier massive influence in pakistan
Talibans has nothing to do with our country they are just intend to destablize pakistan
Islam never teaches such horrible massacre of innocent people
inshallah Pak army will hit the mark and wil prevent our country from the policies of our enemies
Pakistan Zindabad
Operation clean up in Swat should be completed and Taliban should be totally eleminated . All the points /enteries which can help replenish the weapons of militant Talibans must be choked and the IDPs while leaving the areas must also be scrutinized ,so that the Militants do not leave the area under their garb.No vehicle from outside be allowed to enter the war zone. Only governement auothorized vehicles should be allowed to ply for the transportation of the IDPs.Regular surveillance by helicopters and drones be done so that any movement of militants is picked up and destroyed.
I am not in the country but it seems like that this is the only solution not only the army but the rest of the political parties with perhaps one exception, the business comunity, docters, engineers, media, the common man even the religiius scholers should come together and unite against these terrorists who are not only defamming the Pakistani image arround the world but showing this barbarism and calling it Islam. I do not think that anyone in our history has done so much damage to our religion as these guys are and it has to stop by any means possible
i think that this is the case afghan-soviet war. These IDP’s will become the HUB of new recruits as they dont have any other means to support their families. More soldires are required in Swat to clear the area. Current no of troops is not sufficient to clear this large hilly forested area from these militants. I think mobilization of all people who are capable of fighting either retired or in active service to perform their duties in NWFP and tribal areas for uptil six months. Hopefully this will reduce the militants capacity for years to come.